PFA Awards $9 Million for Breckenridge Project

ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Public Facilities Authority (PFA) approved nearly $9 million in grants and loans for construction of a lime-softening water treatment plant in Breckenridge.

The funding includes a principal forgiveness grant of $4 million from the Drinking Water Revolving Fund, a loan of $3.98 million from the Drinking Water Revolving Fund and a grant of $1 million from the Water Infrastructure Fund.

“Funding from the Public Facilities Authority is crucial for helping Minnesota communities upgrade or replace aging sewer and water facilities,” said Shawntera Hardy, who chairs the PFA board and is commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. “Without PFA support, cities like Breckenridge could not afford to make improvements that enhance the quality of their water and protect the environment.”

The Drinking Water Revolving Fund helps communities build drinking water storage, treatment and distribution systems that comply with standards in the Safe Drinking Water Act. The program has awarded more than $800 million in low-interest loans for 400 projects around the state since it was launched in 1999. The funding has provided more than $171 million in interest savings to local governments and taxpayers.

The Water Infrastructure Fund provides supplemental grants to help communities build high priority water infrastructure projects that would otherwise be unaffordable. Grants from the program are packaged with PFA loans or federal loans and grants.

The Minnesota Public Facilities Authority provides financing and technical assistance to help communities build and maintain infrastructure that protects public health and the environment and promotes economic growth. Since inception in 1987, the PFA has financed $4.5 billion in public infrastructure projects in communities throughout Minnesota. Read more at the PFA website.

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